Festival de la Monarca takes flight in East Chicago 

On Sept. 7, The Nature Conservancy’s (TNC) Festival de la Monarca of East Chicago will celebrate monarch butterfly heritage with a family-friendly event featuring traditional performances, crafts and educational activities.   The event will transform Kosciuszko Park into a vibrant stage for butterfly releases, music, food, dance and Mexican culture. Attendees can enjoy a vibrant mix of cultural festivities while learning about the crucial role of monarchs and their conservation.& “This has been one of the favorite events for people in the area,” said Joel Perez, project director for TNC and a founder of the festival.& & Festival attendees assist Dolly “The Monarch Lady” Foster with the monarch butterfly release at The Nature Conservancy’s annual Festival de la Monarca of East Chicago. (Photo/Susan Mihalo) Monarch butterflies’ migration pattern is symbolic in areas in Mexico, where the monarch overwinters. The butterflies will fly south from the U.S. and land mainly in Michoacán, more than 2,000 miles away. Many of the area residents believe that this return of the butterflies is symbolic of their ancestor’s souls coming home.& “The people that come to the festival that have ties to Michoacán, the newer generation, may not have ties that are as strong, but it’s...